47: Dad's Shrinking Expectations

If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it’s probably James Bond... Dive into the surreal with Art Dad Doesn't Like, as we dissect Rachel MacLean's deepfake film, 'Duck.' Submerging us in a green-tinted world drenched in mystery and deception, ‘Duck’ presents a reality where subterfuge and suspicion undermine one’s every belief. MacLean resurrects cinematic icons Sean Connery and Marilyn Monroe, employing deepfake technology as a digital necromancer to summon spectres of the past. But this piece doesn't just look to the past, mimicking the trappings of '60s cinema; it examines the crumbling facades of truth and identity in our digital era. While 'Duck' prompts us to consider deepfake technology’s societal ripples, it implicitly raises the moral quandaries of repurposing the likenesses of the departed. And in relaying a less existentially threatening anecdote, Dad teaches us that if something looks like a swan, it's probably not a swan… View excerpts from ‘Duck’ here! Music from Uppbeat.

This episode, our father-daughter relationship is on the rocks as Dad grapples with Julien Berthier’s work, ‘L’invisible.’ A polystyrene and epoxy resin boulder mounted on a worn-out boat, L’invisible zips along the coast near Marseilles, disrupting serene Mediterranean views. But is it really a feat of engineering as the media claims? Are there hidden messages within this stony façade? And, since we’d be remiss as an art podcast not to talk about Walter Benjamin, does encountering this work online alter its aura? Join us as we navigate the choppy waters of contemporary art! See images here! Music from Upbeat .

Playing the guitar in a dirndl, balancing wine glasses on your arms, smoking a cigarette, dressing up in a toilet paper dress – all things you used to be able to do (and maybe still can?) when having your passport photo taken. In this week's episode, we thumb through Namibian-German artist Max Siedentopf's zany portfolio of "could-be" passport pictures. Usually governed by strict regulations and grim standardisations, passport photos are rarely flattering, and normally… normal. But what if, amidst the stoic stares, we could inject a dose of our quirky selves?  Do these stiff snapshots truly capture our essence, or do they strip away our unique sparkle just to fit into a government-approved mould? We're unpacking these questions and more, exploring the distinction between identity and identification. So, flash your biggest smile, and join us for this week’s episode! See images here!   Music from Uppbeat.

If choosing one song to listen to for eternity sounds daunting, fear not—John Cage has you covered with his avant-garde epic, Organ2/ASLSP ('As Slow As Possible'). It's the ultimate "hold my beer" in the music world, stretching a single composition over 639 years. That's right, this tune hopes to outlive us all. Join us as we dive deep into this glacial-paced masterpiece, ponder the apocalypse, and explore the profound depth (or utter boredom?) of silence. See images here! Music from Uppbeat .

Ageing autocrats and decrepit dictators take the wheel in this rollicking episode, where we dive into Sun Yuan and Peng Yu's 2007 installation, 'Old People's Home'. Picture this: titans of 20th-century global politics—think Muammar Gaddafi, Yasser Arafat, and Leonid Brezhnev—dozing off in wheelchairs, gripping landmines and whips, while they apathetically bump into each other. This simultaneously comedic and discomforting piece asks: Are our leaders metaphorically asleep at the wheel? What emotions do we grapple with as oppressive icons succumb to age—pity or pleasure? And perhaps, most pressing: is it really safe to ride in bumper cars with your kids? Tune in now! Images here. Music from Upbeat.

Potty training and learning to crawl - two significant events when raising a child... and in art history? This week we discuss the late William Pope, also known as Pope.L. Painstakingly dragging himself along the streets of 1970s New York, and slowly (literally) chewing over the news as presented by the Wall Street Journal while sitting on a precariously situated toilet, Pope.L's work turned a critical eye on abject social classes, economic vulnerability, and human endurance in modern society. In our 50th episode, we discuss social geometry, pilgrimages and how to evade spending time with your child. See images here! Works discussed: Pope.L, Times Square Crawl , 1978 Pope.L, Eating the Wall Street Journal, various editions/years Music from Uppbeat.

Merry Christmas from Art Dad Doesn't Like! This year we once again exchange artistic gifts, eliciting startlingly different reactions. From undead Welsh Christmas horses to Palestinian protest art, this year's Christmas Special uncovers various facets of the holiday season from around the world. But the key question is, will Dad's gifting of the Krampus artwork from last year be avenged? See images here! Works discussed: The Way to Bethlehem, Sliman Mansour, 2021, oil on canvas, 120cm x 120cm. Image from SlimanMansour.com. Bethlehem, 1980s, Sliman Mansour, ink on paper. Image from SlimanMansour.com. Camel of Hardships, 1974, Sliman Mansour, oil on canvas, 70cm x 105cm. Image from SlimanMansour.com. Mural from the Cultural Center of Batahola Norte in Managua, Nicaragua, 1987, Boanerges Cerrato (group). Image from 'Friends of Batahola Volunteers' website. Mari Lwyd, Carisa Swenson, 2022, textiles, wire, Magic Sculpt, wood, faux snow, and acrylic, 16H x 6W inches. Image from Modern Eden Gallery. All images fair use.   Music from #Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairies License code: UWHNOPGAVCBSDRIF

How often do you think about the Roman Empire? It's the question taking over TikTok at the moment, but one that hardly needs to be posed to Dad. This week, we're talking about Čiurlionis Gym, an installation by Lithuanian artist Augustas Serapinas that was presented at this year's Art Basel. How do we gender gyms and academic disciplines? What similarities are there between Ancient Rome and Lizzie's childhood? Is Arnold Schwarzenegger on par with Michelangelo? Find the answers to these questions in this episode! See images here! Works discussed: Čiurlionis Gym by Augustas Serapinas Music from Uppbeat.

'Writhing' (as Dad says) around in a pocket of shrink-wrap, participants in Belgian artist Lawrence Malstaf's 'Shrink!' move from a foetal position to a pose reminiscent of cruxifiction. Focussing on immersive, interactive artworks, Malstaf draws on his work as a scenographer for theatre and dance performances to create unique experiences for his audience - including being vacuum-sealed like a steak. Is this artwork more than a reflection on 'man as meat' - could it be a metaphor for life itself, or our (in)ability to control the conditions we live in? More importantly, will Malstaf's work meet Dad's ever-shrinking expectations for contemporary art? See images here! Music from Uppbeat

This episode we dive into art nouveau designer Daisy Makeig-Jones' world of whimsy and magic as we look at the many manifestations of Wedgwood. The creators of a wide range of products, from Josiah Wedgwood's iconic neoclassical jasperware to a Web3 digitisation of the Portland Vase, Wedgwood has consistently drawn inspiration from the past to fuel commercially successful collections. We discuss 'fussy' Edwardian interior design, fairies, and Dad's housesitting tips. See images here! Works discussed: Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre Ghostly Wood Covered Malfrey Pot. c. 1920, Daisy Makeig-Jones. Victoria and Albert Museum. Chromatic Reflections, 2023, Krista Kim. Wedgwood. Odyssey, 2023, Roger Kilimanjaro. Wedgwood. Portland Vase, 1790, Wedgwood. Music from Uppbeat.